Dubai is the City of Records
Here are some interesting facts about this city of the future:
- Dubai is one of the seven states that comprise the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a country formed in 1971 from individual sheikdoms.
- Dubai is the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, one of the seven emirates that make up the country.
- It is located on the southeast coast of the Persian Gulf.
- Many historians believe that the word Dubai may have come from the word Daba (which means “to creep”), referring to the slow flow of Dubai Creek inland.
- Oil was discovered in Dubai in 1963, but today oil accounts for just a small portion, about 11%, of Dubai’s revenues. Tourism and trading are much bigger components of their economy.
- Dubai is the largest and the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
- Foreigners make up most of Dubai’s population! The local people, called Emiratis, are just 15% of the total. Emiratis are provided with free education, free medical and free housing. However, lately their subsidies have been cut back and they have been encouraged to get jobs (mainly government and tourist positions).
- Arabic is the official language, but most of the locals speak English fluently.
- Dubai is the fastest growing city on Earth. In 1991, Dubai had just one tall building and it was at the edge of the desert. Now they have over 400 high rises!
- Dubai has a desert climate. Summers in Dubai are extremely hot. During the summer, the temperatures reach 50° C and don’t fall below 40° C even at night! Everything in Dubai needs to be cooled. Even the bus stops are usually air-conditioned.
- Even though Dubai is in the middle of a desert and it is very flat, you can ski indoors at the Mall of the Emirates!
- Dubai has many man-made islands. The Palm Jumeirah in Dubai is the world’s largest artificial island and is visible from space. It is home to Atlantis, the Palm, a resort with hotels, restaurants and private residences. There is a water park, Aquaventure, at the top of the Palm. They have another set of islands in the shape of a map of the world.
- The tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, is in Dubai. It has 164 floors and the world’s longest elevator travel distance (504m).
- The Fountain at the Burj Khalifa is the most powerful and biggest automated fountain in the world. It can shoot water 130 metres high — as high as a 50-storey building.
- The most luxurious hotel in the world is in Dubai and it’s called the Burj Al Arab. It bills itself at a 7-star hotel and is build on a man-island just off the coast. You can not enter the island without a reservation.
- The Dubai Mall is the largest shopping center in the world with over 1,200 stores.
- The Dubai Miracle Garden, a 72,000-metre flower garden, opened in Dubailand. It is the world’s largest flower garden. The garden has a total of 45 million flowers.
- The Dubai Metro system is the longest automated rail network in the world. Its 87 trains run without drivers.
- Princess Tower in Dubai is the tallest residential building in the world.
- There are hundreds of mosques in Dubai and the call to prayer can be heard throughout the city.
- The Dubai World Cup, an annual thoroughbred horse race, is the world’s richest horse race.
- Camel racing is an extremely popular sport in Dubai, similar to what football is to the US and what hockey is to Canada. Child-sized robots are built and they race the camels. They cost from $300 to $10,000.
- The other famous tourist attractions in Dubai are Dolphinarium, Exotic Birds Show and Cable Car.
- Dubai has a crime rate of 0%. That is why this city is considered one of the safest cities on earth. The law is strict in Dubai. On the other hand, the people of Dubai are maintained with full of the morality.
- The Dubai police fleet includes a Lamborghini, Ferrari and Bentley.
- Modesty standards are encouraged Thereis such a thing as a “burq-kini” for those who wish to be covered up in lycra on the beach.
- There is a golf course in Dubai that requires 4,000,000 gallons of water a day.
- Dubai has no sewage system, instead they use poop trucks to haul the entire cities’ excrement away.
- Dubai has no address system, no zip codes and no postal system. Instead of a line for address, there is a space to draw a map or leave instructions such as this: “I live on the street after the airport road, but before the roundabout. Go past the mosque and make a U-turn. It’s the second house on the left.”
Here are some interesting facts about the Burj Khalifa:
The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world! It stands at a height of 828 meters (2,717 feet).
It has 163 floors above the ground. Imagine how many stairs that would be to climb!
The building has 24,348 windows! That’s a lot of glass to keep clean.
The elevators in the Burj Khalifa are some of the fastest in the world. They can travel at speeds of up to 10 meters per second.
You can visit the observation deck on the 148th floor. It’s the highest observation deck in the world, offering amazing views of the city.
The Burj Khalifa is famous for its incredible New Year’s Eve fireworks display. It’s a spectacular show that lights up the sky.
The design of the Burj Khalifa is inspired by the Hymenocallis flower, which has long petals that extend out from its center.
The exterior of the building is covered with 103,000 square meters of glass, making it shine brightly in the sunlight.
The Burj Khalifa was designed by Adrian Smith, an American architect.
It took about six years to build, starting in 2004 and completing in 2010.
Over 12,000 workers were involved in its construction.
The building houses luxurious residences, offices, and the Armani Hotel.
At the base is the Dubai Fountain, the world’s largest choreographed fountain system.
The Burj Khalifa has a unique aerodynamic design which helps reduce wind forces.